February 17, 2004

Roy Cullen, M.P. (Etobicoke North)
News Release

Roy Cullen Elected Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance

ETOBICOKE - Roy Cullen, Member of Parliament for Etobicoke North, was elected Chair of the House Of Commons Standing Committee on Finance. The election took place early today with the members of the committee voting by secret ballot.

"I am grateful to my colleagues on the Committee who placed their confidence in me to carry out the duties and responsibility of Chair," said Cullen.

Initially elected to the House of Commons in a by-election in 1996, Mr. Cullen was re-elected in the 1997 and 2000 General Elections as the Member of Parliament for Etobicoke North. He was elected Chair of the Ontario Liberal Caucus from 1998 to 1999. He served as Parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Finance from 1999 to 2001. Mr. Cullen was appointed as a Member of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance in 2001. In June 2002 Mr. Cullen was appointed to the Prime Minister's Task Force on Canada/U.S. Relations and also to the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates. In December 2002 Mr. Cullen was appointed Chair of the Liberal Caucus Sub-Committee on Corporate Governance. Also in December 2002 Mr. Cullen was appointed to co-chair the Sub-Committee on Public Service Renewal. This is Mr. Cullen's first time serving as Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance.

"I look forward to this new challenge presented to me, and for the opportunity to provide advice to the House of Commons and the Minister of Finance on a range of economic and fiscal policies of interest to all Canadians," Mr. Cullen continued.

The Finance Committee has its first meeting of the new session scheduled for Wednesday February 18th, 2004.

For more information, please contact:
David Cuddemi, Executive Assistant
Room 317, West Block
613-995-4702